Biopsychology Notes

Biopsychology Overview

  • Biopsychology explores how our mind's structure and function determine our behavior.
  • Biopsychologists investigate body chemistry and genetics to understand and potentially prevent or treat illnesses and genetic disorders.
  • Key areas of exploration include genetics, the nervous system, and the endocrine system.

Genetics

  • Focus is on understanding genes, genetic predispositions, and their impact on behavior and health.

Interaction of Systems

  • Understanding how the nervous system and the endocrine system interact is crucial.
  • Endocrine system relates to hormones and their influence on behavior.

Forensic Psychology Example

  • Example: Forensic psychologists use brain imaging techniques (EEGs) to study brain activity during aggressive video game play to identify potential links to aggressive behavior.

Human Genetics

  • Central to biopsychology is the study of human genetics and their influence on behavior.
Key Questions in Human Genetics
  • Differential Disease Outcomes: Why do individuals with the same disease experience different outcomes?
  • Genetic Components of Psychological Disorders: Are disorders like depression, substance abuse, and schizophrenia genetically linked?
  • Genetic Disease Transmission: How are genetic diseases passed through family lines?
Importance of Early Treatment
  • Early identification and treatment of psychological disorders are crucial for better adjustment to life.
  • This approach is more effective than intervention during adolescence or adulthood.
Genetic Predisposition Example
  • Individuals with a family history of substance abuse should avoid addictive substances due to a higher likelihood of developing addiction.
  • Psychologists advise those with genetic predispositions to find alternative stress-reduction outlets.

Theory of Natural Selection

  • Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection explains how inherited genes that aid survival persist over time.
  • Organisms better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and pass on their genes.

Evolutionary Traits

  • Fear: Fear of spiders and snakes is evolutionary, providing a survival advantage against dangerous animals.
  • Altruism: Altruism is evolutionary, as helping relatives increases the likelihood of their survival, benefiting the community.
  • Many current characteristics and behaviors result from adaptations that aided ancestors.

Evolutionary Advantages

  • Characteristics that protect against predators or increase access to food are evolutionary advantages.
  • Traits that improve offspring survival are also evolutionary.

Genetic Diseases

  • Example: Sickle cell anemia is presented as an evolutionary adaptation.

Sickle Cell Anemia

  • Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease where red blood cells are shaped like sickles, attacking healthy cells.
  • To have the disease, one must inherit specific genetic traits.
  • Heterozygous or dominant alleles result in sickle cell anemia.
  • Parents with a dominant and recessive allele can pass on the recessive allele.
  • Offspring with two recessive alleles do not express sickle cell anemia but carry the trait.

Immunity to Malaria

  • Individuals with two recessive alleles for sickle cell anemia are immune to malaria.
  • This immunity is an evolutionary advantage in malaria-prone regions like Africa.

Genetic Code

  • Humans have 46 chromosomes, arranged in 23 pairs.
  • Chromosomes contain DNA, which is made up of genes.
  • Genes are sequences of genetic code passed through family lines.

Alleles

  • Alleles are variations in the DNA sequence, such as those for eye or hair color.
  • Genetic code variations explain why siblings from the same parents can have different traits.

Genetic Makeup

  • Genetic makeup is based on the DNA material and alignment of alleles within an individual.

Phenotype vs. Genotype

  • Phenotype: Observable characteristics (e.g., hair color, eye color, height).
  • Genotype: The genetic information that may or may not be expressed; some genes can be recessive.
  • Individuals can have a genotype different from what is expressed in their phenotype (e.g., carrying a recessive gene for blonde hair while having dominant brown hair).